Snap-on container closure and combinations



y 5, 1964 H. F. WHEATON 3,131,827

SNAP-ON CONTAINER CLOSURE AND COMBINATIONS Filed Oct. 3, 1962 [/4 1 mm e l 1T1 Wm /6 '7 4 7 G. l mm. 331 .2 3

INVENTOR. HERB ER T F. WHEA TON Arromvex United States Patent 3,131,827 SNAP-0N CONTAINER CLGSURE AND COWINATIONS Herbert F. Wheaten, Summit, NJ., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N.Y., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 228,115 3 Claims. (Cl. 22060) This invention relates to closures for containers and is particularly concerned with closures for containers intended for storing water in fallout shelters.

The present interest in civilian defense has given rise to a need for containers and closures therefor suitable for storage of water over extended periods of time. It is presently contemplated that an adequate supply of drinking water can be stored for years in public and private fallout shelters providing such containers are properly sealed against any possible contamination. In accordance with one arrangement to achieve this end, polyethylene bags would be placed in interiorly coated metal containers and the bags would be filled with water. The bags would then be sealed oil and a suitable closure applied to the container opening. In the event the water should eventually be needed, access could be had thereto by removing the closure and opening the polyethylene bag whereupon a hose could be inserted therein for syphoning oil the water. It is readily apparent that for such a precautionary measure to succeed, there must be no possibility that the closure employed will in any way affect or contaminate the contents of the container even after storage for periods of several years. It is also, of course, necessary that an absolutely tight leakproof and tamperproof seal be elfected to insure maximum security of what could become ones most valuable possession.

It is not, however, so readily apparent that these containers could serve another very important function in the fallout shelter once the water has been drained there from. The proper disposition of waste products, human and other, in a closely confined area is a problem of substantial concern. Having this problem in mind, the closure of the instant invention has been so designed as to efiectively seal an opening of a size such that the con tainer, simply by the addition of a suitable chemical, could be employed as a commode. If the container is to be so used, it is highly desirable that the closure, now, of course, no longer tamperproof, be readily removable and yet still provide a tight cover when again replaced on the container opening.

Besides having all of the above mentioned qualities, such closures must be economical not only to manufacture but also to apply to the container since there is little likelihood that either would be reused.

Applicant has met the above mentioned need by providing a closure capable of sealing 05 a relatively large opening and which requires destruction of an overlying tamperproot metal capseal to gain access to the contents of the container. The initial closure of the instant invention in addition embodies an underlying plastic snapon closure which also fits securely over the container opening and remains thereon after the metal capseal is removed.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide closures for containers intended for the storage of drinking water in fallout shelters.

Another object is to provide a relatively large closure which has economic advantages both in its manufacture and in its application to a container opening neck formation.

Still another object is to provide leakproof and tamperproof closures for the sealing of relatively large openings.

A further object is to provide a reusable snap-on closure 3,131,827 Patented May 5., 1964 ice for relatively large openings after an initial tamperproof element has been removed.

A further object is to provide a snap-on closure for relatively large openings which can be partially opened so as to expose only a portion of the opening.

A still further object is to provide a snap-on closure for relatively large openings which can be readily and quickly removed from, or tightly snapped onto, an opening neck formation.

Further and more detailed objects will be in part be pointed out and in part be obvious as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container closure combination in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a part elevational-part sectional exploded view of the container top and closure assembly.

PEG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the snap-on closure taken on lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container neck and closure combination.

FIG. 5 is a part elevational-part sectional view showing the snap-on closure partly removed.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the closure in a position just prior to being snapped onto the opening neck formation.

Considering the closure assembly of the instant invention as shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the same is applied to the top 2 of a container 1 which top is seamed in a well known manner at 3 to the upper edge of the container wall to form a tight, permanent joint therewith. The closure assembly itself has as its main parts a resilient snap-on closure generally indicated at 4 covered by a metal capseal 5. The snap-on closure may be formed of any of a number of materials providing the required gasketing qualities and flexibility with reasonable stiflness of which polyethylene plastic is a nonlimiting example.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the container top 2 has formed therein an opening 6 having an upwardly projecting neck 7 the upper end of which projects radially outwardly irito a lip 12 so as to be of greater diameter than the vertical neck base 8. The snapon closure 4 comprises a flat disc-like top 9 which turns at its periphery into a downwardly and inwardly extending skirt It). At its lower edge, the skirt turns directly radially outwardly at 20 into an annular flange 11 parallel to the top 9.

With the snap-on closure engaged over the opening neck 7, as shown in FIG. 7, the undersurface of the top 9 engages the top of the lip 12 while the skirt 10 hugs the outer surface of the lip 12 and the neck base 8. This is accomplished by forming the skirt 10 with an inwardly and downwardly angled portion 10a and a lower vertical portion 161). Hence the skirt it} conforms exactly to the configuration of the neck 7. The bend 20 then fits tightly into the juncture between the vertical neck base 8 and the horizontal top 2. This arrangement provides a maximum gasketing area extending around the entire exposed surface of the opening neck formation and down onto the top of the container.

A pair of diametrically opposed gripping ears 13 extend radially outwardly from the flange 11 to facilitate removal of the snap-on closure. Closely overlying the snap-on closure is the metal capseal 5, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, which effectively renders the closure tamperproof. The capseal also comprises a flat disc-like top 14 which has a straight downwardly projecting skirt 15 therearound before securement to the opening neck 7. Ex-

r 7 connected by a pair of score lines 17 which extend from either side of the ears 16, up the skirt and across the top 14.

From FIG. 2 it can be seen that the internal diameter of the top 14 of the capseal is substantially the same as the outside diameter of the top 9 of the snap-on closure, enabling the snap-on closure to snugly fit within the capseal whereupon the complete assembly can be applied to the opening neck 7. Having been snapped onto the opening neck, the skirt 15 of the metal capseal is crimped radially inwardly, by means of a suitable tool designed for this purpose, causing the skirt 10 of the snap-on closure to be tightly compressedabout the container opening neck. This'manner of sealing a relatively large opening by instantaneously securing a complete tamperproof closure assembly to an upstanding opening neck, besides resulting in a greatly improved closure, has many economic advantages. These advantages flow not only from-the ease withrwhich this type of closure can be manufactured but also from its strength and effectiveness with relative simplicity of the opening neck formation and subsequent simplicity of the securing operation.

With the closure assembly secured to the opening neck, the flange 11 of the snap-on closure will lie down against the container top 2 as shown in FIG. 4. This insures against any dirt or foreign matter getting into contact with the neck. In addition, the metal seal completely covers the thin plastic closure preventing any likelihood of puncture or other unauthorized entry. It should be kept inmind that the ordinary problems of sealing off a container opening are greatly magnified in an instance such as this where a light inexpensive closure is employed to seal off a relatively large opening for a period covering several years. Further, recognizing the fact that the survival of many persons may directly depend upon the effectiveness of this closure, it is imperative that it function in every detail exactly as intended.

Looking again at FIG. 1, it is seen that the capseal and underlying snap-on closure are so oriented circumferentially as to stagger the position of the capseal ears 16 with respect to the ears 13 of the snap-on closure. By preventing overlapping of cars, this arrangement eliminates the possibility of one gripping overlapping ears together instead of just the capseal ear. Severe damage to the underlying snap-on closure could result if the two ears were pulled together. The capseal ear 16 may be provided with a perforation 18 which serves as a convenient place to attach an identifying tag. Also although over the opening neck. It has already been pointed out that this container besides serving to store water is also intended for the collection of waste material in the fallout shelter after the water has been dispensed therefrom. As seen from FIG. 1, the opening 6 is of such a size in relation to the container top 2, that with the addition of a suitable chemical the container could serve as a commode. It is accordingly most desirable that the snap-on closure cooperate with the opening neck to make a tight the ear would advantageously be gripped by a pair of pliers for tearing away the section between the scores for removing the capseal, just an ordinary nail or any pointed implement could be inserted in the perforation 18 and used for starting the tearing. Note in FIG. 4 how the flange 11 prevents the capseal car 16 from being 7 bent down directly on top of the container top 2 and hence always easily accessible.

FIG. 5 shows the snap-on closure 4 partially secured to the opening neck with the capseal completely removed.

Numeral 19 indicates 'a tube which is used to syphon off the contents of the container. The water, having beenstored in polyethylene bags which are opened prior to insertion ofthe tube 19, is accordingly dispensed without making contact with any portion of the container. Another important function of the flange 11 is that its presence imparts sufficient stiffness to the closure so that an car 13 may be gripped and pulled upwardly to open a small portion only of the closure which portion will remain in open position though the major portion of the closure will still be snugly engaged about the opening neck. However, by exerting a stronger pull on the ear 13, one can pull the closure 4 completely off the opening neck if so desired.

Another major advantage accruing from the flange 11 is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the snap-on closure is shown ina position just prior to being completely snapped a fit therewith and still be readily removable. Accordingly the inner diameter of the skirt 1!) at the bend 20is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the neck base 8. Hence before the. snap-on cap is fully secured in place as in the FIG. 6 position, the under surface 21 of the flange 11 will overlie the top of the radial neck lip 12. Hand pressure then applied in the direction of the arrow 22 will enable the skirt 19 to be expanded radially outwardly so as to completely snap over the opening neck. With this arrangement the closure is rendered substantially air tight with a minimum amount of effort. Here again it becomes evident that the problems involved in tightly sealing openings of substantial size become more numerous and more acute as compared to those en- There has long countered in much smaller openings. been a need for an effective, initially tamperproof, re-

usable closure suitable for tightly sealing relatively large openings which is economical to manufacture and apply and which can be initially opened without the use ofa special tool. It is in view of this broad need which has become increasingly apparent with the problems arising in connection with supplying fallout shelters that the herein disclosed invention is believed to provide a pat-' entable step forward in this art.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction described and shown and various embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In container construction, a metal container wall formed with a relatively large opening therethrough, an upwardly extending neck surrounding said opening, said neck having a first portion of a single thickness extendj ing upwardly from said container wall and a doubled over ment with the upper surface of the container wall po-r-:

tion immediately surrounding said neck, a gripping ear forming part of said flange and extending radially outwardly from the free edge thereof, said container neck having a maximum outside diameter greater than the minimum inside diameter of. said skirt so that said skirt is radially outwardly expanded upon being urged over said neck, and a tamperproof metal capseal closely, overlying said snap-on closure having a disc-like top, a downwardly extending skirt therearound, a tearing ear forming part of said capseal skirt and extending radially outwardly from the free edge thereof, said capseal tearing ear closely overlying and extending radially outwardly beyond said snap-on closure flange, said snap-on closure gripping ear and said capseal tearing car being so arranged as to allow said tearing ear to be torn upwardly independently of said gripping ear and said capseal skirt being crirnped radially inwardly so as to tightly compress said snap-0n closure skirt about said neck.

'2. In container construction, a metal container wall formed with a relatively large opening therethrough, an upwardly extending neck surrounding said opening, said neck having a first portion of a single thickness extending upwardly from said container wall and a doubled over second portion formed as an extension of said first portion and extending radially outwardly and upwardly from said first portion in trusto conical form, a closure assembly secured in assembled relationship to said neck, said assembly including a flexible, resilient snap-on closure having a disc-like top, a skirt portion bordering said top extending downwardly and inwardly at an angle therefrom, an annular enlargement located at the base of said skirt portion, a gripping car at said base extending radially outwardly from said skirt, said container neck having a maximum outside diameter greater than the minimum inside diameter of said skirt so that said skirt is radially outwardly expanded upon being urged over said neck, and a tamperproof metal capseal closely overlying said snap-on closure having a disc-like top, a downwardly extending skirt therearound, a tearing ear forming part of said capseal skirt and extending radially outwardly from the free edge thereof, said capseal tearing ear closely overlying and extending radially outwardly beyond said snap-on closure skirt enlargement, said snap-on closure gripping ear and said capseal tearing ear being circumferentially spaced to allow said tearing ear to be torn upwardly independently of said gripping ear and said capseal skirt being crimped radially inwardly so as to tightly compress said snap-on closure skirt about said neck.

3. In container construction, a metal container wall formed with a relatively large opening therethrough, an upwardly extending neck surrounding said opening, said neck extending radially outwardly and upwardly in frusto conical form, a closure assembly secured in assembled relationship to said neck, said assembly including a flexible, resilient snap-on closure having a disc-like top, a skirt portion bordering said top extending downwardly and inwardly at an angle therefrom, an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the base of said skirt portion in overlying engagement with the upper surface of the container wall portion immediately surrounding said neck, gripping means forming part of said skirt, said container neck having a maximum outside diameter greater than the minimum inside diameter of said skirt so that said skirt is radially outwardly expanded upon being urged over said neck, and a tamperproof metal capseal closely overlying said snap-on closure having a disc-like top, a downwardly extending skirt therearound, tearing means forming part of said capseal skirt, said capseal tearing means extending radially outwardly beyond said snap-on closure, said snap-on closure gripping means and said capseal tearing means being circumferentially spaced to allow said tearing means to be torn upwardly independently of said gripping means and said capseal skirt being crimped radially inwardly so as to tightly compress said snap-on closure skirt about said neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,093,735 Shapiro Apr. 21, 1914 2,190,676 Perry Feb. 20, 1940 2,533,934 Henchert Dec. 12, 1950 2,760,671 Parish Aug. 28, 1956 2,765,832 Tupper Oct. 9, 1956 2,941,660 Tupper June 21, 1960 2,982,436 Hitov May 2, 1961 

1. IN CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION, A METAL CONTAINER WALL FORMED WITH A RELATIVELY LARGE OPENING THERETHROUGH, AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING NECK SURROUNDING SAID OPENING, SAID NECK HAVING A FIRST PORTION OF A SINGLE THICKNESS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID CONTAINER WALL AND A DOUBLED OVER SECOND PORTION FORMED AS AN EXTENSION OF SAID FIRST PORTION AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION IN FRUSTO CONICAL FORM, A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY SECURED IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID NECK, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT SNAP-ON CLOSURE HAVING A DISC-LIKE TOP, A SKIRT PORTION BORDERING SAID TOP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY AT AN ANGLE THEREFROM, AN ANNULAR FLANGE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE BASE OF SAID SKIRT PORTION IN OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER WALL PORTION IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING SAID NECK, A GRIPPING EAR FORMING PART OF SAID FLANGE AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER NECK HAVING A MAXIMUM OUTSIDE DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE MINIMUM INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID SKIRT SO THAT SAID SKIRT IS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXPANDED UPON BEING URGED OVER SAID NECK, AND A TAMPERPROOF METAL CAPSEAL CLOSELY OVERLYING SAID SNAP-ON CLOSURE HAVING A DISC-LIKE TOP, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SKIRT THEREAROUND, A TEARING EAR FORMING PART OF SAID CAPSEAL SKIRT AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, SAID CAPSEAL TEARING EAR CLOSELY OVERLYING AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID SNAP-ON CLOSURE FLANGE, SAID SNAP-ON CLOSURE GRIPPING EAR AND SAID CAPSEAL TEARING EAR BEING SO ARRANGED AS TO ALLOW SAID TEARING EAR TO BE TORN UPWARDLY INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID GRIPPING EAR AND SAID CAPSEAL SKIRT BEING CRIMPED RADIALLY INWARDLY SO AS TO TIGHTLY COMPRESS SAID SNAP-ON CLOSURE SKIRT ABOUT SAID NECK. 